1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis of this play is in Hollywood. The two characters are Vincent Chang and Bradley Yamashita. They are both Asian-American actors. Vincent Chang is around 60 and has a different idea about Asian-Americans in Hollywood than Bradley, who is much younger.
2. What is the intrusion?
I think the intrusion is when Bradley gets upset with Vincent and calls him a Chinese Steppin Felchit. This set off a tension in their friendship that was later resolved and solidified it.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the night that Bradley and Vincent first meet at the Hollywood party.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will the actors always be stuck in the discriminating Hollywood society? Will they get roles based on their talent rather than their race? Will Vincent and Bradley become longtime friends?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Everyone knows who Vincent Chang is and that he is a fairly famous actor. Bradley is the only one who knows that he stabbed someone until he tells Vincent.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I thought that the most theatrical moment was when Bradley reveals that he may have killed a man when he was younger and the beginning of the next scene when Bradley shows up at Vincent’s apartment. These moments were filled with a lot of emotion and were very tense.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Stereotyping
Sacrifice
Friendship
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Vincent and Bradley both want similar things: to be taken seriously as actors and to be judged based on their talent, not their ethnicity. However, Hollywood tends to prevent this because they constantly keep giving roles that are demeaning to Asian-American actors. Bradley and Vincent respond to this in different ways. Vincent accepts every one of those jobs whereas Bradley continues to stand up for what he believes in and turns down those offers.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
An image in the play is when Vincent is teaching Bradley and tells him to be a rock. He goes on to describe the rock and such; it just gives a great image of Asian-American roles at the time. Those roles are just thing that are being who they are and nothing else.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There was not any direct relationships in the play.
Disgraced Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis in the play is in New York, around 2012. The main character is Amir, a Pakistani-American lawyer working his way up the ladder. His wife is an artist, Emily.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when tempers begin to flare during dinner between Amir, Emily, and Isaac. It culminates in the most dramatic scene in the play.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Emily and others are more interested Amir’s race, religion and culture than he is. He seems quite ashamed of his heritage.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Amir begin to embrace his culture? Will the dinner party escalate too far? Will Amir get the promotion?
5. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Injustice
Islamophobia
Terrorism
Racial profiling
Violence
6. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand inthe way of them getting what they want?
Amir was to rise in the ranks of his firm and get a promotion. This is hindered by him taking on a case for Abe and his firm questioning him. Emily wants her art to be recognized in a gallery.
7. After having seen the Town and Gown production of the play write a paragraph each on the following:
I was not able to go see the play. I had to settle for just reading it.
Zoot Suit Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in 1942 in LA, California. The story revolves around Henry Reyna and other members of the 38th gang. There has been a murder at the Sleepy Lagoon.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Henry and his friends get arrested for murdering Jose at Sleepy Lagoon.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Henry gets arrested at a time when tensions are already very high in LA. It is war time and the rivalry between the sailors and the Latino community are at an all time high.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Henry be convicted of this crime? Will they find the real murderer? Will racism and prejudice prevent justice from being served?
5. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is during the trial. Much of the action culminates to this point. The tone of the prosecutor made it a very tense scene. You could tell that he was racist and out against the Latino community.
6. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Injustice
Chaos
Corruption
Community
7. What does Henry want? How does the playwright resolve his wants at the end of the play? How does this resolution compare with the real Henry, as indicated in the documentary?
Henry wants to join the Navy, but the trial and everything else prevents this. Instead, he has to see his brother leave to join the military. He ends up spending life in and out of jail.
8. Note which version of the play in production you saw (either the DVD version or the HS stage version), then discuss the way the designers move from place to place (scene to scene) and how effectively that is for communicating the dramatic action.
I saw the high school version. The play moves very fast and the use of music really helps the transitions. The lighting and fading was also very helpful for this aspect.
9. Choose a character from the play and discuss how the costume designer has accentuated (focused) the audience attention on that character. What are some of the details of the costume that strike you as interesting or exaggerated?
El Pachuco stood out to me the most as a character. His outfit was fitting for the part, and the way he stands really accentuates his character. The red in the outfit really caught my eye.
10. Lighting plays a big role in the DVD and the staged version by the HS. Discuss the use of light to accentuate characters and scenes, choosing a particular scene from the production to discuss.
The scene towards the where all the sailors gang up on him had lighting that really stuck out to me. Once they started beating him up, the background turned reddish/orange and everyone on stage was a silhouette. This was very unique to me and I thought it was very interesting. I assume it also makes the action scene a lot easier for the actors.
Fires in the Mirror Worksheet
1. Describe thestasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph. The stasis of the play is in an area known as Crown Height in New York in 1991. In Crown Heights, there has been tensions between the African American community and the Jewish community for some time. Both communities were feeling some resentment towards the other.
2. What is the intrusion? The intrusion is when Gavin Cato was hit and killed by Rabbi Schneerson. This event is what caused all the others that follow, such as the riots and the stabbing of Yankel Rosenbaum.
3. What is the unique factor? The unique factor is that it was a Jewish Rabbi who hit a black boy, at a particular time when Jewish and African American tensions were very high, 1991.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? What will be the punishment of the Rabbi and Yankel’s murderers. Will the community be able to move on from this? Or are these two groups doomed to be at each other’s throats in the future?
5. In your opinion what is the most theatrical segment of the video version of the play and explain why do you think it is so powerful? I thought the very last segment was the most theatrical segment. Seeing the father discuss this in the interview was very touching. The moments were he broke down and cried were particularly moving. And then when he was talking about how Gavin never gave him trouble. Another thing that stood out was how he was more filled with sadness about his boy than anger aimed at the Jewish community, in contrast to so many others. He had more reason than any to be vengeful, and that side didn’t show in the interview, which is very powerful in my opinion. A close second is when Yenkel’s brother is delivering his speech. The passion that he had when he was trying to rally everyone else was very powerful.
6. List some of the themes of the play. Racism Murder Anger vs. Grief Justice/Injustice Diversity Chaos
7. Television allows the actress to create mini sets, a variety of lighting effects, and detailed costume pieces for the presentation of her many characters, not to mention graphic footage of the actual events in Crown Heights. This is frankly not possible to accomplish on the stage which requires that the action move rapidly between one scene and the other leaving little if any time for a change of dress, settings, lights, and props. Describe some of the varieties of these production details that struck you as particularly effective. The scenes where she set up the desk and full office space came off as quite effective. It seemed like it made it more like an interview, or like a documentary. Another thing is how some of her portrayals were actually doing stuff in the interview. In particular, I remember one of them was putting ketchup on his burger at the restaurant, and he almost spills ketchup on himself. He then continues talking while eating. This seemed particularly effective because it made the interview feel more lively.
=
=
Lines Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis is the theatre where the group is performing this piece. It is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It consists of six individuals presenting many of the problems that minorities face in Grand Rapids and all over the US.
2. What is the intrusion?
I couldn’t find a clear intrusion because this piece does not follow a traditional cause and effect timeline. It has many small stories in sequence with no clear overall plot.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the Theatre group performing this piece on that particular day in front an audience, in a time when racial inequality is running rampant through our society.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
What kinds of injustices are happening to the minorities in this city? Is there a way to fix these social inequalities that the group brings up? Why does this continue to happen in this country? These are not necessarily answered in the play but they are questions that were going through my mind as I watched.
5. Identify some of the most theatrical moments in the play and of what importance they were to you.
I thought the scene about the police brutality was the most theatrical. It was a very intense part with the actors acting out how some of these situations go down. It is still a very relevant issue today because there are still instances where innocent (or not, it’s still terrible) people are physically beat by the people who are supposed to protect them. It seems like the pinnacle of racism and racial inequality.
6. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Inequality
Injustice
7. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help usunderstand the play.
The title takes a sort of literal meaning in the first issue they bring up: redlining. Here, LINES represents the actual boundaries that people make around areas where minorities live. After that it takes on a symbolic meaning. In every issue raised, there was someone or something that was creating a “line” or boundary to restrict minorities.
8. The production used the stage in a multitude of creative ways to places where theaction took place. List some of these that particularly stood out to you.
The background had the skyline of Grand Rapids which really helped me to see we were in an urban environment. The boxes were very important for many of the scenes. The crew were constantly moving them, stacking them, and standing on them in different ways.
9. Projections and lighting also played an important role in the performance. Discussthe use of both to achieve the intended effect.
This play was filled with a lot of emotion from the stories that the actors were telling. The lighting was used to set the mood for many of these emotions. For example, the police brutality scene had red lights and this added the tone of rage and seriousness. Like in most plays, the lighting also helped to direct the audience’s attention to different people or things.
10. Live and recorded sound played a role in this production. What were some of thememorable uses of these to support the stories that were told.
The sounds provided a very immersive experience for the play. The many sound effects did well to transport you to where and when the stories took place, which helps the actors to get their point across. The drums were also very important. They gave a rhythm to the play that helped it to move forward. However, after a little while it became repetitive because the play was quite long.
Extremities Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
This play takes place in a farmhouse in New Jersey. The characters are Marjorie, Raul, Patricia, and Terry. Marjorie is having a normal day until Raul walks in.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Marjorie is able to stop Raul by spraying his eye and choke him and then capture him.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Raul chose this specific day, a day when he knew the two roommates wouldn’t be home.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Marjorie kill Raul or turn him into the police? If they turn him in, will he get the proper punishment?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Only Raul and Marjorie know what truly happened. All the characters know that the courts would not convict Raul without and physical evidence of the rape.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical scene is the ending scene where Marjorie convinces Raul to confess to his crime. It is the buildup of the whole play and the dialogue is very intense. When she starts imitating Raul by repeating similar questions that he said during the rape was very theatrical.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Revenge
Justice
Loyalty
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Raul wants to rape the three women. Marjorie is able to stop him from doing this. Marjorie wants to kill Raul, but Terry and Patricia prevent her from doing this. Terry and Patricia want to be able to convince Marjorie not to kill Raul.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Raul being chained up in the fireplace is a very powerful image. It paints him as being the animal that he truly is. The title hints that the play will be about something crazy and out of the ordinary. This is quite accurate because the rape is a very extreme situation as well as the way Marjorie reacts.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There is no direct family relationships in the play. The women are unrelated but they do have some amount of trust between themselves. Raul mentions he has a wife and kids.
Execution of Justice Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis is in San Francisco in 1978. Dan White is an ex cop who just resigned his position as district supervisor. He has depression and regrets the choice he made. The mayor is George Moscone and Harvey Milk was the city supervisor.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Dan White kills the mayor and Harvey Milk. And then immediately tells his wife what he did.
3. What is the unique factor?
That Dan White admitted to killing two men and there is still a chance of him getting lessened charges.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Dan White be convicted of 1st degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. Did he kill out of rage or homophobia?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Everyone knows that the mayor and Harvey Milk were killed by Dan White. But, only White knows the real reason he killed them: either rage in the moment, or hatred and homophobia.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I thought the most theatrical point was when the verdict was finally revealed. The whole play built up to the question of whether or not it was murder or manslaughter.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Gay rights
Justice/ lack thereof
Civil rights
Hate crime
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Norman wants to convict White of 1st degree murder, but Schmidt makes a compelling case against it. Schmidt wants to reduce the counts leveled against White. White wanted to be a good man and help his community. But, his depression and later his actions got in the way of that.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I thought the church was an excellent image. It constantly came up during the play, and to me, it allowed the audience to see the other side of the story of Dan White.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Mr. and Mrs. White were married. He was able to confess to her what he did right away, showing faith and trust in his wife. But their marriage was having a hard time due to his depression.
Flyin’ West Worksheet
Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
Stasis consists of Sophie, Fannie, and Miss Leah on a little farm in Nicodemus, Kansas in 1898. Along with Minnie, they are not actually blood-related, but consider themselves family. There are currently speculators that want to buy the land, but Sophie disagrees with selling. Then, Minnie and Frank return to the farm from London.
What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Frank beats Minnie in the house after he loses all his money. Without this severe beating, the women may not have decided to kill him
What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is Minnie and Frank coming back to Nicodemus at the same time that speculators are looking to buy land.
What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will the women kill Frank? Will the land be sold to white people?
Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning, Minnie is the only one who knows that she is going to have a baby. Another kind of exposition is how all the characters know about the speculators trying to buy land.
Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical part is the scene when Frank is yelling at Minnie, and Sophie and Fannie walk in. This is a very tense scene it shows the women who Frank really is. Then, Minnie announces she is pregnant, which is another very dramatic surprise. Overall, this sets up the rest of the action of the play.
List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Sexism
Domestic Violence
Empowerment of women
Justice
What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Sophie wants Nicodemus to become a great town and a haven for black people. She is impeded by individuals who want to sell their land to the speculators. Minnie wants Frank to return to who he used to be in order to have a safe place for her child. She is blocked from this because Frank will never change his horrible ways. Frank wants his inheritance, but does not receive it because of his brothers.
Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The encroaching harshness of winter serves well to illustrate the struggle the women have once Frank shows up. And 7 months later, spring arrives in contrast to the winter, inviting a pleasant image while knowing that Minnie, her child, and the land are safe.
Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play
The women in this play are not blood-related, but they do consider themselves family. They often refer to each other as sister, and they have a bond just as strong as any family. Sophie acts as the mature bossy sister, almost in the role of a mother. Miss Leah is very close to being a grandmother to all of them. Minnie is married to Frank, but Frank treats her horribly, and this is a huge focus of the play.
The Wedding Band DESIGN
Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit the play? Circle the one you choose and explain why you think it would work best.
I think that proscenium would be the best venue to suit The Wedding Band. The stage consists of the three houses, and in my mind, I can picture the backyards lining up nicely on the stage. With all three houses in the back, there would still be room for the actors and actresses on the front of the stage. Overall, I feel like there isn’t a huge necessity for intimacy or interaction with the audience, so the picture frame-like proscenium would still work better than say, the thrust. Arena would be very difficult due to the house. And, black box could be acceptable if there was enough room, but generally they are smaller. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the scene designer?
The setup of the houses would probably be the most challenging. You need them to be accurately represented, but you also need room on stage for the acting. Also, this is a historical play, so the stage would do well to represent that. Research into the time period would help with this. For example, use set pieces to help the audience see how poor these women are. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character.
Herman strikes me as a humble baker. He is a white male, but not a rich one by any means; so, his clothes would be better than many African Americans’, but they would still reflect how he doesn’t have much money. So, he would not be wearing a suit or fancy clothing. And maybe he’d have an apron on with flour on it to show he just came from work. This clothing would help the audience see what kind of man Herman is, not a vain man who cares about looks. Provide ideas about the use of light in the play.
The lighting would be different depending on the mood of each particular scene. For example, the dramatic scene with Julia and Herman’s mother yelling would have chaotic lights representing the intensity of the scene. In contrast, scenes between Julia and Herman would have lights spotlighting them in their close love scenes, and when he is sick towards the end. The scene when he dies would have really somber, dim lights. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to suggest the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. The music tones at the beginning of the play would be quite different from those at the end. For example, the beginning would be more uplifting to accompany the comical intro of them trying to find the coin. The dramatic scene with Julia and Herman’s mother yelling would have very chaotic music. The music towards the very end with Herman dying would be very somber and low. This would help immerse the audience in the sadness of the play.
=
=
The Rez Sisters Worksheet
Reflect on the importance of the character (spirit?) not seen by all the characters but seen by only one or a few of the characters and discuss that character’s importance to the dramatic action and the development of the plot.
Nanabush is the spiritual character in Rez Sisters that is only seen by a few characters. At first, this was a very unusual concept for me, considering normally all characters can interact with each other. I felt that Nanabush added a very mysterious feel to the play. He is a central force that advances the plot and dramatic action in the play. Nanabush comes in a few different forms such as a seagull and a nighthawk. While in these forms, he interacts with specific characters. For example, when he interacts with Zhaboonigan, she reveals that she was raped by two men. In this way Nanabush is able to expel information about certain characters so that way audience can know. He is a known in Indigenous mythology as a Trickster and he fulfils this role in the play as he torments both Zhaboonigan and Marie. Overall, he was a powerful and effective device to progress the story of the Rez Sisters.
Compare the aspirations and socio-economic level of the characters in this play with those in Wedding Band, Queen's Garden, and Real Women.
The women in all of the plays we have focused on are part of the lower economic status. In the Wedding Band, being African Americans has put the women on the lower rung of society. This can be seen when in the beginning of the play, when some coins are dropped on the ground and Mattie goes berserk trying to find them. The two most well off women are Julia (with her fixed-up house) and Fanny (being the “only” black landlord). However, they both pale in comparison to Herman’s white trash family. This shows how truly poor these women were, and how society tried very hard to keep it that way. The Queen’s garden features characters from the projects of Los Angeles. Most of westside is filled with poor minorities, and as Brenda grows up you can see how living in this area affects education of those same minorities. It creates a cycle of violence and destructive behavior for each generation. Brenda wants to leave it all behind and make a life for herself, but the community always sucked her back in. In Real Women Have Curves, it is easy to see that these immigrant women all don’t have very much money. Some of them are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to get food. This affects Ana’s dream of going to college. In Real Women, these women dream of a better life, and with their “hard work” it ends up paying off. The women in Rez Sisters are relatable to all these women. Like all the other women, they are on the lower end of the economic spectrum. The women here want to win the Biggest Bingo Tournament ever so they can purchase their own seemingly trivial desires. Like Brenda in Queen’s Garden and the women in Real Women, the Rez Sister women work very hard to achieve their goal. This actually pays off for Philomena, and she buys a toilet. All of these women share a success story in their own right, however, some of them still end up living a fairly unchanged life.
Compare the role of women, and the depiction of men in this play with that in Real Women Have Curves.
In both of these plays, men are sought after. They are seen as a way of improving life because they can provide a paying job. For example, Estela likes el Tormento and her mother is claiming all the time that they need to find husbands to support them. This is similar with Rez Sisters. The women all talk about Big Joey. However, in both of the plays, the men all let these women down. For example, el Tormento only wanted to sleep with Estella and cared nothing for her. And then he gets arrested, which is appalling to Estela. And in Rez Sisters, Zhaboonigan describes her rape by two men. So, in both plays, men are often made out to be the bad guys. Basically, the women in these plays are confined to their gender roles, and they have a hard getting out of that.
Real Women Have Curves Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in Los Angeles, California. It takes place from September 7th to 11th, 1987. Stasis consists of the five women, Ana, Estella, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali working in Estella’s small clothing factory. The women come in, work on the clothing all day and get paid very little. Estella has to constantly get on them to continue working. They all just got legal except for Estela, so they are still worried about la Migra. 2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when they find out that they have to finish 100 dresses by Friday, and if they don’t Estella won’t be able to get her green card. This is what causes the action of the rest of the play. The girls must work together, each performing their own special task. If they are successful, they will get paid and Estella can become legal. 3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is these group of women on the day they found out they have to make 100 dresses. 4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question is: Are the women going to be able to make the 100 dresses by Friday? And in turn, will the business be saved and Estela become legal? 5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One of the kinds of exposition is that Estela was the only one who knew that she did not have a green card at the beginning of the play. The other kind of exposition is that all of the women knew that Estela had a thing for El Tormento. 6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play is the scene when all the women follow Ana and take off their clothes. This is a very empowering moment for the women. They were able to cast aside what society wants and truly be themselves. It provided a great moment of bonding as they each complimented the other’s body and were comfortable with their own. 7. List some of the themes of the play.
One major theme is to follow your dreams. It was Estela’s dream to make dresses, and she succeeded in that by the end.
Another is to be comfortable with your body.
When women come together, anything is possible
women's rights
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Estela wants her clothing factory to be successful. But, she has 4 employees who often get off task. Also, some of her machines are breaking. And, she still doesn’t have her green card, which could cause the business to die. She still owes some the women previous paychecks.
Ana wants to be a writer, but she doesn’t have the money. So, she has to wait a year for financial aid, and in the meantime work. 9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
First of all, the title of the play gives the indication it will be an empowering female play, which it is. It ends up being the name of Estela’s boutique and it shows how the women overcame their insecurities and society. Just the setting alone provides a[AS1] powerful picture of the life of poor immigrants. Picturing the run down room with broken equipment, and tired, sweating female workers. It really paints a picture of how this life was. 10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Estela and Ana are Carmen’s children. The relationship is a little rocky because Carmen is very superficial and constantly talks about Ana’s weight and how she may not find a husband. Also, Estela constantly issuing commands puts strain on the family’s relationship as well.
Queen’s Garden Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
In stasis, Brenda is a little girl who doesn't have a care in the world. She meets Kali and they spend their days looking at sunsets and riding the waves. They reside in LA in the Westside, which is the poor side of town. Brenda helps her father and family run their pharmacy. 2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Brenda and Kali go to high school and get put in different classes. Brenda gets put in honors whereas Kali goes to remedial. This sends the characters on two different trajectories.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the time and place that we listen to Brenda's story.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Kali and Brenda end up happily together?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning, all the characters know each other. But later, Brenda finds out how her community is surrounded in drugs and violence.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is the last scene where Kali's and Smoke's armies are assembled and ready to shoot. There's moment when they are talking and then a gunshot rings. The music and the sound effects at this part made this scene very powerful. The image of the falling red roses in the Queen's Garden topped this off as a very theatrical scene.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Revenge
Change
Growing up
Racial prejudice
Educational differences
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Brenda wants to be with Kali but he has changed so much and become so destructive to himself and others that she can't be with him. Kali wants to be with Brenda be he is the element of his own destruction. Brenda also wants to be able to help out her community but is torn because be it can be so destructive.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The final scene depicts a very theatrical and intense scene. Kali and Smoke, ready to shoot each other, and Aunti Mary ready to pick things up like they were years ago. I picture them all surrounded by the beautiful roses in the garden. And once the shot is fired, the rose petals falling to the ground is a very powerful image. The Queens Garden is a great name for the play because this was such an important symbol for Brenda's love of her community.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
In the beginning, Brenda and her family have a pretty ideal family. Everyone helps Dad with his work at the pharmacy and everyone gets along. Later on though, the realities of life puts strain on the relationship. So much so that Brenda gets kicked out for some time. Eventually the family is able to come to better terms.
Trifles Design Worksheet
1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play? Proscenium Given the details in the script, why do you think it is the best venue for a production? I think that a proscenium would work best for Trifles. The entire play focuses on the kitchen alone so space wise, there is no need for a thrust. Also, there is no particular action that needs to be seen in more detail by the audience, so a proscenium would work fine. 2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the design team? The kitchen would probably be one of the most difficult things. The script is very specific in how the kitchen is set up to be messy. So, there would be a lot of details that the design team would have to set up. Like the cabinet for the bird cage, and the bread loaf, and others messy parts. Another thing would be having an upstairs for the men to go to. This way the women can hear when the men are heading downstairs and they can stop talking. 3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? I would dress the women fairly similarly with a few key differences. Mrs. Peters would be in a very dull, long skirt whereas Mrs. Hale would be in a little shorter cut skirt showing more freedom. Also, the colors for Mrs. Hale would be brighter. This would indicate the more rebellious spirit of Mrs. Hale. It would also stand her out as the main progression of the play. 4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Overall, the mood of the play is quite solemn. The lighting would be fairly dark or dull, with no bright colors. Cool colors would work better than warm colors to convey the sadness of the murder. The lighting could change a little when the bird is found because this is when the action really starts to progress. 5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. Just like the lighting, the music needs to express the melancholy of the play. Slow sad music in the beginning when discussing the death of John Wright. Later the music can pick up when the bird is found. Then it can have a much lighter tone at the end when Mrs. Hale breaks through the “Trifles” stereotype with the “knot it” line.
Wedding Band Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in 1918 in a town near the sea in South Carolina. The main character is Julia Augustine and she just moved in to a new house next to Lula and Mattie. The landlord is Fanny. Julia and Herman have been together for 10 years and want to get married but can’t because of the law. 2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Herman falls ill from the flu. 3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the specific setting in the play: its 1918 during the war and there is a huge flu epidemic going on. 4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The big dramatic questions is: will Herman get better and survive the flu? And if so, will Herman and Julia get married? 5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning of the play, Julia is the only one who knows of her relationship with Herman, a white male, until she reveals this to everyone. Another type of exposition is that all the characters are aware of the flu that is going around. 6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play was the scene when Herman’s Mother shows up at Julia’s house. This is a very tense scene that showcases the true racism of Herman’s family. Herman’s Mother would not even look at Julia. Then, the interaction between Julia and Herman’s mother is very intense, each slinging worse and worse insults at each other. Finally the scene ends with Julia cursing the whole family, including Herman. 7. List some of the themes of the play.
Inter-racial marriage is a huge theme in this play.
Racism as a whole is addressed in this as well.
“Till death do us part”
War time and women working to support the war effort 8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand inthe way of them getting what they want?
Julia and Herman both want to get married. But, the racist laws at this time prevent interracial marriage. Julia also wants to get settled into the right town/home where it’s not too quiet and not too loud. Mattie wants her husband home but the war is preventing that. 9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help usunderstand the play.
The backyard is very important to the play. All the houses are very close together and it is easy for one neighbor to hear another. The description of the houses really puts and image in my mind of Julia’s status as compared to the other women. She makes steady money and is able to afford a better and cleaner house. 10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Herman’s mother is an extremely racist and destructive person. She is very disappointed in her son for choosing a black woman over Celestine. This and other ignorant things she says makes Herman extremely mad at her sometimes. Even though he isn’t present, Herman also shows a relationship with his dad. He is still able to defend/ignore the racist things he did such as join the KKK.
Yankee Dawg You Die Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis of this play is in Hollywood. The two characters are Vincent Chang and Bradley Yamashita. They are both Asian-American actors. Vincent Chang is around 60 and has a different idea about Asian-Americans in Hollywood than Bradley, who is much younger.
2. What is the intrusion?
I think the intrusion is when Bradley gets upset with Vincent and calls him a Chinese Steppin Felchit. This set off a tension in their friendship that was later resolved and solidified it.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the night that Bradley and Vincent first meet at the Hollywood party.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will the actors always be stuck in the discriminating Hollywood society? Will they get roles based on their talent rather than their race? Will Vincent and Bradley become longtime friends?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Everyone knows who Vincent Chang is and that he is a fairly famous actor. Bradley is the only one who knows that he stabbed someone until he tells Vincent.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I thought that the most theatrical moment was when Bradley reveals that he may have killed a man when he was younger and the beginning of the next scene when Bradley shows up at Vincent’s apartment. These moments were filled with a lot of emotion and were very tense.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Stereotyping
Sacrifice
Friendship
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Vincent and Bradley both want similar things: to be taken seriously as actors and to be judged based on their talent, not their ethnicity. However, Hollywood tends to prevent this because they constantly keep giving roles that are demeaning to Asian-American actors. Bradley and Vincent respond to this in different ways. Vincent accepts every one of those jobs whereas Bradley continues to stand up for what he believes in and turns down those offers.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
An image in the play is when Vincent is teaching Bradley and tells him to be a rock. He goes on to describe the rock and such; it just gives a great image of Asian-American roles at the time. Those roles are just thing that are being who they are and nothing else.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There was not any direct relationships in the play.
Disgraced Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis in the play is in New York, around 2012. The main character is Amir, a Pakistani-American lawyer working his way up the ladder. His wife is an artist, Emily.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when tempers begin to flare during dinner between Amir, Emily, and Isaac. It culminates in the most dramatic scene in the play.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Emily and others are more interested Amir’s race, religion and culture than he is. He seems quite ashamed of his heritage.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Amir begin to embrace his culture? Will the dinner party escalate too far? Will Amir get the promotion?
5. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Injustice
Islamophobia
Terrorism
Racial profiling
Violence
6. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Amir was to rise in the ranks of his firm and get a promotion. This is hindered by him taking on a case for Abe and his firm questioning him. Emily wants her art to be recognized in a gallery.
7. After having seen the Town and Gown production of the play write a paragraph each on the following:
I was not able to go see the play. I had to settle for just reading it.
Zoot Suit Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in 1942 in LA, California. The story revolves around Henry Reyna and other members of the 38th gang. There has been a murder at the Sleepy Lagoon.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Henry and his friends get arrested for murdering Jose at Sleepy Lagoon.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Henry gets arrested at a time when tensions are already very high in LA. It is war time and the rivalry between the sailors and the Latino community are at an all time high.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Henry be convicted of this crime? Will they find the real murderer? Will racism and prejudice prevent justice from being served?
5. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is during the trial. Much of the action culminates to this point. The tone of the prosecutor made it a very tense scene. You could tell that he was racist and out against the Latino community.
6. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Injustice
Chaos
Corruption
Community
7. What does Henry want? How does the playwright resolve his wants at the end of the play? How does this resolution compare with the real Henry, as indicated in the documentary?
Henry wants to join the Navy, but the trial and everything else prevents this. Instead, he has to see his brother leave to join the military. He ends up spending life in and out of jail.
8. Note which version of the play in production you saw (either the DVD version or the HS stage version), then discuss the way the designers move from place to place (scene to scene) and how effectively that is for communicating the dramatic action.
I saw the high school version. The play moves very fast and the use of music really helps the transitions. The lighting and fading was also very helpful for this aspect.
9. Choose a character from the play and discuss how the costume designer has accentuated (focused) the audience attention on that character. What are some of the details of the costume that strike you as interesting or exaggerated?
El Pachuco stood out to me the most as a character. His outfit was fitting for the part, and the way he stands really accentuates his character. The red in the outfit really caught my eye.
10. Lighting plays a big role in the DVD and the staged version by the HS. Discuss the use of light to accentuate characters and scenes, choosing a particular scene from the production to discuss.
The scene towards the where all the sailors gang up on him had lighting that really stuck out to me. Once they started beating him up, the background turned reddish/orange and everyone on stage was a silhouette. This was very unique to me and I thought it was very interesting. I assume it also makes the action scene a lot easier for the actors.
Fires in the Mirror Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.The stasis of the play is in an area known as Crown Height in New York in 1991. In Crown Heights, there has been tensions between the African American community and the Jewish community for some time. Both communities were feeling some resentment towards the other.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Gavin Cato was hit and killed by Rabbi Schneerson. This event is what caused all the others that follow, such as the riots and the stabbing of Yankel Rosenbaum.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that it was a Jewish Rabbi who hit a black boy, at a particular time when Jewish and African American tensions were very high, 1991.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
What will be the punishment of the Rabbi and Yankel’s murderers. Will the community be able to move on from this? Or are these two groups doomed to be at each other’s throats in the future?
5. In your opinion what is the most theatrical segment of the video version of the play and explain why do you think it is so powerful?
I thought the very last segment was the most theatrical segment. Seeing the father discuss this in the interview was very touching. The moments were he broke down and cried were particularly moving. And then when he was talking about how Gavin never gave him trouble. Another thing that stood out was how he was more filled with sadness about his boy than anger aimed at the Jewish community, in contrast to so many others. He had more reason than any to be vengeful, and that side didn’t show in the interview, which is very powerful in my opinion.
A close second is when Yenkel’s brother is delivering his speech. The passion that he had when he was trying to rally everyone else was very powerful.
6. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Murder
Anger vs. Grief
Justice/Injustice
Diversity
Chaos
7. Television allows the actress to create mini sets, a variety of lighting effects, and detailed costume pieces for the presentation of her many characters, not to mention graphic footage of the actual events in Crown Heights. This is frankly not possible to accomplish on the stage which requires that the action move rapidly between one scene and the other leaving little if any time for a change of dress, settings, lights, and props. Describe some of the varieties of these production details that struck you as particularly effective.
The scenes where she set up the desk and full office space came off as quite effective. It seemed like it made it more like an interview, or like a documentary. Another thing is how some of her portrayals were actually doing stuff in the interview. In particular, I remember one of them was putting ketchup on his burger at the restaurant, and he almost spills ketchup on himself. He then continues talking while eating. This seemed particularly effective because it made the interview feel more lively.
=
=
Lines Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis is the theatre where the group is performing this piece. It is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It consists of six individuals presenting many of the problems that minorities face in Grand Rapids and all over the US.
2. What is the intrusion?
I couldn’t find a clear intrusion because this piece does not follow a traditional cause and effect timeline. It has many small stories in sequence with no clear overall plot.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the Theatre group performing this piece on that particular day in front an audience, in a time when racial inequality is running rampant through our society.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
What kinds of injustices are happening to the minorities in this city? Is there a way to fix these social inequalities that the group brings up? Why does this continue to happen in this country? These are not necessarily answered in the play but they are questions that were going through my mind as I watched.
5. Identify some of the most theatrical moments in the play and of what importance they were to you.
I thought the scene about the police brutality was the most theatrical. It was a very intense part with the actors acting out how some of these situations go down. It is still a very relevant issue today because there are still instances where innocent (or not, it’s still terrible) people are physically beat by the people who are supposed to protect them. It seems like the pinnacle of racism and racial inequality.
6. List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Inequality
Injustice
7. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The title takes a sort of literal meaning in the first issue they bring up: redlining. Here, LINES represents the actual boundaries that people make around areas where minorities live. After that it takes on a symbolic meaning. In every issue raised, there was someone or something that was creating a “line” or boundary to restrict minorities.
8. The production used the stage in a multitude of creative ways to places where the action took place. List some of these that particularly stood out to you.
The background had the skyline of Grand Rapids which really helped me to see we were in an urban environment. The boxes were very important for many of the scenes. The crew were constantly moving them, stacking them, and standing on them in different ways.
9. Projections and lighting also played an important role in the performance. Discuss the use of both to achieve the intended effect.
This play was filled with a lot of emotion from the stories that the actors were telling. The lighting was used to set the mood for many of these emotions. For example, the police brutality scene had red lights and this added the tone of rage and seriousness. Like in most plays, the lighting also helped to direct the audience’s attention to different people or things.
10. Live and recorded sound played a role in this production. What were some of the memorable uses of these to support the stories that were told.
The sounds provided a very immersive experience for the play. The many sound effects did well to transport you to where and when the stories took place, which helps the actors to get their point across. The drums were also very important. They gave a rhythm to the play that helped it to move forward. However, after a little while it became repetitive because the play was quite long.
Extremities Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
This play takes place in a farmhouse in New Jersey. The characters are Marjorie, Raul, Patricia, and Terry. Marjorie is having a normal day until Raul walks in.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Marjorie is able to stop Raul by spraying his eye and choke him and then capture him.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Raul chose this specific day, a day when he knew the two roommates wouldn’t be home.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Marjorie kill Raul or turn him into the police? If they turn him in, will he get the proper punishment?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Only Raul and Marjorie know what truly happened. All the characters know that the courts would not convict Raul without and physical evidence of the rape.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical scene is the ending scene where Marjorie convinces Raul to confess to his crime. It is the buildup of the whole play and the dialogue is very intense. When she starts imitating Raul by repeating similar questions that he said during the rape was very theatrical.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Revenge
Justice
Loyalty
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Raul wants to rape the three women. Marjorie is able to stop him from doing this. Marjorie wants to kill Raul, but Terry and Patricia prevent her from doing this. Terry and Patricia want to be able to convince Marjorie not to kill Raul.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Raul being chained up in the fireplace is a very powerful image. It paints him as being the animal that he truly is. The title hints that the play will be about something crazy and out of the ordinary. This is quite accurate because the rape is a very extreme situation as well as the way Marjorie reacts.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There is no direct family relationships in the play. The women are unrelated but they do have some amount of trust between themselves. Raul mentions he has a wife and kids.
Execution of Justice Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The stasis is in San Francisco in 1978. Dan White is an ex cop who just resigned his position as district supervisor. He has depression and regrets the choice he made. The mayor is George Moscone and Harvey Milk was the city supervisor.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Dan White kills the mayor and Harvey Milk. And then immediately tells his wife what he did.
3. What is the unique factor?
That Dan White admitted to killing two men and there is still a chance of him getting lessened charges.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Dan White be convicted of 1st degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. Did he kill out of rage or homophobia?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Everyone knows that the mayor and Harvey Milk were killed by Dan White. But, only White knows the real reason he killed them: either rage in the moment, or hatred and homophobia.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I thought the most theatrical point was when the verdict was finally revealed. The whole play built up to the question of whether or not it was murder or manslaughter.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Gay rights
Justice/ lack thereof
Civil rights
Hate crime
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Norman wants to convict White of 1st degree murder, but Schmidt makes a compelling case against it. Schmidt wants to reduce the counts leveled against White. White wanted to be a good man and help his community. But, his depression and later his actions got in the way of that.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I thought the church was an excellent image. It constantly came up during the play, and to me, it allowed the audience to see the other side of the story of Dan White.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Mr. and Mrs. White were married. He was able to confess to her what he did right away, showing faith and trust in his wife. But their marriage was having a hard time due to his depression.
Flyin’ West Worksheet
Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
Stasis consists of Sophie, Fannie, and Miss Leah on a little farm in Nicodemus, Kansas in 1898. Along with Minnie, they are not actually blood-related, but consider themselves family. There are currently speculators that want to buy the land, but Sophie disagrees with selling. Then, Minnie and Frank return to the farm from London.
What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Frank beats Minnie in the house after he loses all his money. Without this severe beating, the women may not have decided to kill him
What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is Minnie and Frank coming back to Nicodemus at the same time that speculators are looking to buy land.
What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will the women kill Frank? Will the land be sold to white people?
Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning, Minnie is the only one who knows that she is going to have a baby. Another kind of exposition is how all the characters know about the speculators trying to buy land.
Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical part is the scene when Frank is yelling at Minnie, and Sophie and Fannie walk in. This is a very tense scene it shows the women who Frank really is. Then, Minnie announces she is pregnant, which is another very dramatic surprise. Overall, this sets up the rest of the action of the play.
List some of the themes of the play.
Racism
Sexism
Domestic Violence
Empowerment of women
Justice
What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Sophie wants Nicodemus to become a great town and a haven for black people. She is impeded by individuals who want to sell their land to the speculators. Minnie wants Frank to return to who he used to be in order to have a safe place for her child. She is blocked from this because Frank will never change his horrible ways. Frank wants his inheritance, but does not receive it because of his brothers.
Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The encroaching harshness of winter serves well to illustrate the struggle the women have once Frank shows up. And 7 months later, spring arrives in contrast to the winter, inviting a pleasant image while knowing that Minnie, her child, and the land are safe.
Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play
The women in this play are not blood-related, but they do consider themselves family. They often refer to each other as sister, and they have a bond just as strong as any family. Sophie acts as the mature bossy sister, almost in the role of a mother. Miss Leah is very close to being a grandmother to all of them. Minnie is married to Frank, but Frank treats her horribly, and this is a huge focus of the play.
The Wedding Band DESIGN
Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit the play? Circle the one you choose and explain why you think it would work best.
I think that proscenium would be the best venue to suit The Wedding Band. The stage consists of the three houses, and in my mind, I can picture the backyards lining up nicely on the stage. With all three houses in the back, there would still be room for the actors and actresses on the front of the stage. Overall, I feel like there isn’t a huge necessity for intimacy or interaction with the audience, so the picture frame-like proscenium would still work better than say, the thrust. Arena would be very difficult due to the house. And, black box could be acceptable if there was enough room, but generally they are smaller.
What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the scene designer?
The setup of the houses would probably be the most challenging. You need them to be accurately represented, but you also need room on stage for the acting. Also, this is a historical play, so the stage would do well to represent that. Research into the time period would help with this. For example, use set pieces to help the audience see how poor these women are.
Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character.
Herman strikes me as a humble baker. He is a white male, but not a rich one by any means; so, his clothes would be better than many African Americans’, but they would still reflect how he doesn’t have much money. So, he would not be wearing a suit or fancy clothing. And maybe he’d have an apron on with flour on it to show he just came from work. This clothing would help the audience see what kind of man Herman is, not a vain man who cares about looks.
Provide ideas about the use of light in the play.
The lighting would be different depending on the mood of each particular scene. For example, the dramatic scene with Julia and Herman’s mother yelling would have chaotic lights representing the intensity of the scene. In contrast, scenes between Julia and Herman would have lights spotlighting them in their close love scenes, and when he is sick towards the end. The scene when he dies would have really somber, dim lights.
Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to suggest the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play.
The music tones at the beginning of the play would be quite different from those at the end. For example, the beginning would be more uplifting to accompany the comical intro of them trying to find the coin. The dramatic scene with Julia and Herman’s mother yelling would have very chaotic music. The music towards the very end with Herman dying would be very somber and low. This would help immerse the audience in the sadness of the play.
=
=
The Rez Sisters Worksheet
Reflect on the importance of the character (spirit?) not seen by all the characters but seen by only one or a few of the characters and discuss that character’s importance to the dramatic action and the development of the plot.
Nanabush is the spiritual character in Rez Sisters that is only seen by a few characters. At first, this was a very unusual concept for me, considering normally all characters can interact with each other. I felt that Nanabush added a very mysterious feel to the play. He is a central force that advances the plot and dramatic action in the play. Nanabush comes in a few different forms such as a seagull and a nighthawk. While in these forms, he interacts with specific characters. For example, when he interacts with Zhaboonigan, she reveals that she was raped by two men. In this way Nanabush is able to expel information about certain characters so that way audience can know. He is a known in Indigenous mythology as a Trickster and he fulfils this role in the play as he torments both Zhaboonigan and Marie. Overall, he was a powerful and effective device to progress the story of the Rez Sisters.
Compare the aspirations and socio-economic level of the characters in this play with those in Wedding Band, Queen's Garden, and Real Women.
The women in all of the plays we have focused on are part of the lower economic status. In the Wedding Band, being African Americans has put the women on the lower rung of society. This can be seen when in the beginning of the play, when some coins are dropped on the ground and Mattie goes berserk trying to find them. The two most well off women are Julia (with her fixed-up house) and Fanny (being the “only” black landlord). However, they both pale in comparison to Herman’s white trash family. This shows how truly poor these women were, and how society tried very hard to keep it that way. The Queen’s garden features characters from the projects of Los Angeles. Most of westside is filled with poor minorities, and as Brenda grows up you can see how living in this area affects education of those same minorities. It creates a cycle of violence and destructive behavior for each generation. Brenda wants to leave it all behind and make a life for herself, but the community always sucked her back in. In Real Women Have Curves, it is easy to see that these immigrant women all don’t have very much money. Some of them are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to get food. This affects Ana’s dream of going to college. In Real Women, these women dream of a better life, and with their “hard work” it ends up paying off. The women in Rez Sisters are relatable to all these women. Like all the other women, they are on the lower end of the economic spectrum. The women here want to win the Biggest Bingo Tournament ever so they can purchase their own seemingly trivial desires. Like Brenda in Queen’s Garden and the women in Real Women, the Rez Sister women work very hard to achieve their goal. This actually pays off for Philomena, and she buys a toilet. All of these women share a success story in their own right, however, some of them still end up living a fairly unchanged life.
Compare the role of women, and the depiction of men in this play with that in Real Women Have Curves.
In both of these plays, men are sought after. They are seen as a way of improving life because they can provide a paying job. For example, Estela likes el Tormento and her mother is claiming all the time that they need to find husbands to support them. This is similar with Rez Sisters. The women all talk about Big Joey. However, in both of the plays, the men all let these women down. For example, el Tormento only wanted to sleep with Estella and cared nothing for her. And then he gets arrested, which is appalling to Estela. And in Rez Sisters, Zhaboonigan describes her rape by two men. So, in both plays, men are often made out to be the bad guys. Basically, the women in these plays are confined to their gender roles, and they have a hard getting out of that.
Real Women Have Curves Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in Los Angeles, California. It takes place from September 7th to 11th, 1987. Stasis consists of the five women, Ana, Estella, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali working in Estella’s small clothing factory. The women come in, work on the clothing all day and get paid very little. Estella has to constantly get on them to continue working. They all just got legal except for Estela, so they are still worried about la Migra.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when they find out that they have to finish 100 dresses by Friday, and if they don’t Estella won’t be able to get her green card. This is what causes the action of the rest of the play. The girls must work together, each performing their own special task. If they are successful, they will get paid and Estella can become legal.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is these group of women on the day they found out they have to make 100 dresses.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question is: Are the women going to be able to make the 100 dresses by Friday? And in turn, will the business be saved and Estela become legal?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One of the kinds of exposition is that Estela was the only one who knew that she did not have a green card at the beginning of the play. The other kind of exposition is that all of the women knew that Estela had a thing for El Tormento.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play is the scene when all the women follow Ana and take off their clothes. This is a very empowering moment for the women. They were able to cast aside what society wants and truly be themselves. It provided a great moment of bonding as they each complimented the other’s body and were comfortable with their own.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
- One major theme is to follow your dreams. It was Estela’s dream to make dresses, and she succeeded in that by the end.
- Another is to be comfortable with your body.
- When women come together, anything is possible
- women's rights
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?Estela wants her clothing factory to be successful. But, she has 4 employees who often get off task. Also, some of her machines are breaking. And, she still doesn’t have her green card, which could cause the business to die. She still owes some the women previous paychecks.
Ana wants to be a writer, but she doesn’t have the money. So, she has to wait a year for financial aid, and in the meantime work.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
First of all, the title of the play gives the indication it will be an empowering female play, which it is. It ends up being the name of Estela’s boutique and it shows how the women overcame their insecurities and society. Just the setting alone provides a[AS1] powerful picture of the life of poor immigrants. Picturing the run down room with broken equipment, and tired, sweating female workers. It really paints a picture of how this life was.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Estela and Ana are Carmen’s children. The relationship is a little rocky because Carmen is very superficial and constantly talks about Ana’s weight and how she may not find a husband. Also, Estela constantly issuing commands puts strain on the family’s relationship as well.
Queen’s Garden Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
In stasis, Brenda is a little girl who doesn't have a care in the world. She meets Kali and they spend their days looking at sunsets and riding the waves. They reside in LA in the Westside, which is the poor side of town. Brenda helps her father and family run their pharmacy.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Brenda and Kali go to high school and get put in different classes. Brenda gets put in honors whereas Kali goes to remedial. This sends the characters on two different trajectories.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the time and place that we listen to Brenda's story.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Kali and Brenda end up happily together?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning, all the characters know each other. But later, Brenda finds out how her community is surrounded in drugs and violence.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment is the last scene where Kali's and Smoke's armies are assembled and ready to shoot. There's moment when they are talking and then a gunshot rings. The music and the sound effects at this part made this scene very powerful. The image of the falling red roses in the Queen's Garden topped this off as a very theatrical scene.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Revenge
Change
Growing up
Racial prejudice
Educational differences
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Brenda wants to be with Kali but he has changed so much and become so destructive to himself and others that she can't be with him. Kali wants to be with Brenda be he is the element of his own destruction. Brenda also wants to be able to help out her community but is torn because be it can be so destructive.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The final scene depicts a very theatrical and intense scene. Kali and Smoke, ready to shoot each other, and Aunti Mary ready to pick things up like they were years ago. I picture them all surrounded by the beautiful roses in the garden. And once the shot is fired, the rose petals falling to the ground is a very powerful image. The Queens Garden is a great name for the play because this was such an important symbol for Brenda's love of her community.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
In the beginning, Brenda and her family have a pretty ideal family. Everyone helps Dad with his work at the pharmacy and everyone gets along. Later on though, the realities of life puts strain on the relationship. So much so that Brenda gets kicked out for some time. Eventually the family is able to come to better terms.
Trifles Design Worksheet
1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
Proscenium
Given the details in the script, why do you think it is the best venue for a production?
I think that a proscenium would work best for Trifles. The entire play focuses on the kitchen alone so space wise, there is no need for a thrust. Also, there is no particular action that needs to be seen in more detail by the audience, so a proscenium would work fine.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the design team?
The kitchen would probably be one of the most difficult things. The script is very specific in how the kitchen is set up to be messy. So, there would be a lot of details that the design team would have to set up. Like the cabinet for the bird cage, and the bread loaf, and others messy parts. Another thing would be having an upstairs for the men to go to. This way the women can hear when the men are heading downstairs and they can stop talking.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character?
I would dress the women fairly similarly with a few key differences. Mrs. Peters would be in a very dull, long skirt whereas Mrs. Hale would be in a little shorter cut skirt showing more freedom. Also, the colors for Mrs. Hale would be brighter. This would indicate the more rebellious spirit of Mrs. Hale. It would also stand her out as the main progression of the play.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production?
Overall, the mood of the play is quite solemn. The lighting would be fairly dark or dull, with no bright colors. Cool colors would work better than warm colors to convey the sadness of the murder. The lighting could change a little when the bird is found because this is when the action really starts to progress.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play.
Just like the lighting, the music needs to express the melancholy of the play. Slow sad music in the beginning when discussing the death of John Wright. Later the music can pick up when the bird is found. Then it can have a much lighter tone at the end when Mrs. Hale breaks through the “Trifles” stereotype with the “knot it” line.
Wedding Band Worksheet
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in 1918 in a town near the sea in South Carolina. The main character is Julia Augustine and she just moved in to a new house next to Lula and Mattie. The landlord is Fanny. Julia and Herman have been together for 10 years and want to get married but can’t because of the law.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Herman falls ill from the flu.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is the specific setting in the play: its 1918 during the war and there is a huge flu epidemic going on.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The big dramatic questions is: will Herman get better and survive the flu? And if so, will Herman and Julia get married?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
In the beginning of the play, Julia is the only one who knows of her relationship with Herman, a white male, until she reveals this to everyone. Another type of exposition is that all the characters are aware of the flu that is going around.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play was the scene when Herman’s Mother shows up at Julia’s house. This is a very tense scene that showcases the true racism of Herman’s family. Herman’s Mother would not even look at Julia. Then, the interaction between Julia and Herman’s mother is very intense, each slinging worse and worse insults at each other. Finally the scene ends with Julia cursing the whole family, including Herman.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Inter-racial marriage is a huge theme in this play.
Racism as a whole is addressed in this as well.
“Till death do us part”
War time and women working to support the war effort
8. What do the principal characters want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of them getting what they want?
Julia and Herman both want to get married. But, the racist laws at this time prevent interracial marriage. Julia also wants to get settled into the right town/home where it’s not too quiet and not too loud. Mattie wants her husband home but the war is preventing that.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The backyard is very important to the play. All the houses are very close together and it is easy for one neighbor to hear another. The description of the houses really puts and image in my mind of Julia’s status as compared to the other women. She makes steady money and is able to afford a better and cleaner house.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Herman’s mother is an extremely racist and destructive person. She is very disappointed in her son for choosing a black woman over Celestine. This and other ignorant things she says makes Herman extremely mad at her sometimes. Even though he isn’t present, Herman also shows a relationship with his dad. He is still able to defend/ignore the racist things he did such as join the KKK.